Pittsburgh, Dec. 22, 2009 --- The Heinz Endowments announced today that James E. Rohr, chairman and CEO of PNC Financial Services Group, has joined its board.

“For his internationally respected business acumen alone, Jim would be sought after to guide the Endowments’ work in the region, especially during this very tough economic period,” Endowments Chairman Teresa Heinz said. “But adding to that his extraordinary record of service to so many of Pittsburgh’s civic and charitable organizations, it is clear that the Endowments’ vision for the region and his personal vision are perfectly aligned. I am grateful that he has agreed to serve.”

In his nearly decade-long leadership of PNC, Rohr has grown the financial institution into the country’s fifth-largest bank by deposits. With branches in 15 states and the District of Columbia, PNC has assets of $271 billion. Under Rohr’s management, PNC has developed new consumer banking products and specialized services for companies and government entities. The company also has made a series of acquisitions of other financial institutions, including National City Bank earlier this year.

Rohr’s community service includes leadership roles in civic, cultural and educational organizations. He is the immediate past chairman of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and also of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, which was created through Endowments funding and the leadership of Heinz family members.

“Long before my time with the Cultural Trust, which as a Heinz Endowments legacy may be the single most important investment in our region, I had a deep appreciation for the Heinz family’s approach to philanthropy,” said Rohr. “Under Teresa’s leadership, the foundation has grown to become so much more than a traditional grant-making institution. The Endowments is a developer and nurturer of new ideas, a risk taker and a strong advocate for values that I believe are critically important to the region’s future.”

Rohr and the Endowments have many shared community interests. One key area is the foundation’s ground-breaking work in fostering early childhood education systems across Pennsylvania, and Rohr’s role as co-chair, along with Gov. Ed Rendell, of the governing system of that network, Pre-K Counts. Rohr also initiated a similar multi-state system of early childhood support services by way of PNC’s $100 million Grow Up Great initiative.

“In important strategy areas where the Endowments has made substantial investments, Jim Rohr has been investing and leading as well,” said Endowments President Bobby Vagt. “On the business side, he has embraced sustainable development principles in quality design and green building. In civic and cultural life, he has worked to bring new efficiencies to arts institutions to ensure their futures. In both sectors, he has been a champion of increasing diversity.”

Other nonprofit leadership positions held by Rohr include board service for the Greater Pittsburgh Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where he also served as chairman. He serves on the boards of Carnegie Mellon University, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and the University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He has been recognized for his volunteer service with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, the Sesame Workshop Corporate Honoree Award and the Hero Award of the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement presented by the Heinz Family Philanthropies.

Rohr will attend his first directors’ meeting as an Endowments board member in February.

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